Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, can provide respiratory and cardiac support during severe respiratory illness. The ECMO machine directly oxygenates the blood, providing an opportunity for the lungs to heal. Importantly, it avoids damage to the lungs that can be caused by use of a ventilator, which forces air into the lungs with pressure. Watch this video of Jay Shiland, who underwent ECMO treatment at NYP/Columbia and recovered from a severe case of what was believed to be pneumonia.
